Odor-removing cover for absorbent pads and method of making same

• US 5,122,407 A
• Filed: 06/20/1990
• Issued: 06/16/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Weber, Mary G., Majors, Stephanie R., Tanzer, Richard W., Yeo, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lesmes, George F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHELBORNE, KATHRYNE E
• Application Number:
  US07/540,714
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 428/198, 428/264, 428/265, 428/290, 428/905, 428/138, 604/359
• US Class Current: 428/138
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51121 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51305 having areas of different permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51061 for rendering the surface hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5109 with odour control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/842 with active charcoal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8423 with molecular sieves; zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8426 with metallic salts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic 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 2300/102 Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/21 Acids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/237 Noninterengaged fibered material encased [e.g., mat, batt, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24826 Spot bonds connect components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3154 Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2139 Coating or impregnation specified as porous or permeable to a specific substance [e.g., water vapor, air, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2508 Coating or impregnation absorbs chemical material other than water

Abstract

An absorbent pad has a cover formed of non-woven fibrous material, which is coated with a fluorocarbon polymer and odor absorber(s). The cover sheet is apertured around a critical zone to overcome undesired surface tension effects. The method of producing the cover includes providing a water-based mixture that includes 1% by weight of a fluorocarbon composition. An odor absorbing reagent is added to the mixture which then is applied to a nonwoven web of fibrous material. The treated web is dried to remove the excess water from the mixture, and the fluorocarbon composition component is cured to form a hydrophobic coating around the reagent and to bind the reagent to the web. The drying and curing steps can be accomplished by applying a flow of air heated to a temperature in a range from about 100° C. to about 120° C. to the web until the water has been removed.

Claims

1. A pad for absorbing bodily fluids and controlling odor created by the presence of the bodily fluids in the pad, the pad comprising:

(a) a liquid ad vapor permeable cover having a periphery, the cover including;

(i) a nonwoven web having a zone wherein from about 6 to about 1100 apertures are defined by the web within the zone;

(ii) a liquid impermeable and vapor permeable fluorocarbon composition adhered to said web, and

(iii) an odor absorbing reagent bound to said web by said fluorocarbon composition, said reagent being rendered hydrophobic by said composition;

(b) a liquid and vapor impermeable baffle having a periphery; and

(c) a liquid absorbent material disposed between said cover and said baffle; and

wherein the cover and the baffle are in general juxtaposed position with respect to each other and are joined to each other at their respective peripheries.

2. The pad according o claim 1, wherein the nonwoven web is formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, cellulosic fibers or polyolefin fibers.

3. The pad according to claim 1, wherein the liquid impermeable and vapor permeable fluorocarbon composition is selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl acrylic copolymer or polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. The pad according to claim 1, wherein h odor absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, biphosphates, sulfates, and bisulfates of alkali and alkaline earth metals, ascorbic acid, boric acid, citric acid and maleic acid.

5. The pad according to claim 1, wherein the liquid and vapor impermeable baffle is formed from a film selected from the group consisting of polypropylene or polyethylene film.

6. The pad according o claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, wood fluff, coform materials, meltblown materials, carded materials or sphagnum moss.

7. The pad according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the apertures ranges from about 0.8 millimeters to about 10 millimeters.

8. The pad according to claim 7, wherein the diameter of the apertures ranges rom about 1 millimeter to about 2 millimeters.

9. The pad according to claim 1, wherein the aperture density in the zone ranges from about 50 apertures per square inch to about 300 apertures per square inch.

10. The pad according to claim 9, wherein the zone is about 4 inches by 1.5 inches.

11. The pad according to claim 10, wherein the zone is generally located centrally and symmetrically on the cover.

12. The pad according to claim 11, wherein the apertures define an open area that ranges from about 2% to about 90% of the zone.

13. The pad according to claim 12, wherein the apertures define an open area that ranges from about 10% to about 40% of the open area of the zone.

14. The pad of claim 1, wherein the cover and the baffle are joined at their respective peripheries by a means selected from h group consistin of heat sealing, adhesive application, crimping or spot bonding.

15. A pad for absorbing bodily fluids and controlling odor created by the presence of the bodily fluids in the pad, the pad comprising:

(a) a liquid and vapor permeable cover having a periphery, the cover including;

(i) a nonwoven web having a zone wherein from about 6 to about 1100 apertures per square inch are defined by the web within the zone;

(ii) a liquid impermeable and vapor permeable fluorocarbon composition adhered to said web, and

(iii) odor absorbing means bound to the web by the fluorocarbon composition, the reagent being rendered hydrophobic by the composition;

(b) a liquid and vapor impermeable baffle having a periphery; and

(c) a liquid absorbent material disposed between said cover and said baffle; and

wherein the cover and the baffle are in general juxtaposed position with respect to each other and are joined to each other at their respective peripheries.

16. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the nonwoven web is formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, cellulosic fibers or polyolefin fibers.

17. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the liquid impermeable and vapor permeable fluorocarbon composition is electrode from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl acrylic copolymer or polytetrafluoroethylene.

18. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the odor absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, biphosphates, sulfates, and bisulfates of alkali and alkaline earth metals, ascorbic acid, boric acid, citric acid and maleic acid.

19. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the liquid and vapor impermeable baffle is formed from a film selected from the group consisting of polypropylene or polyethylene film.

20. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the liquid absorbent material is selected from the group consistin of cellulose wood fluff, coform materials, meltblown materials, carded materials or sphagnum moss.

21. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the diameter of the apertures ranges from about 0.8 millimeters to about 10 millimeters.

22. The pad according to claim 21, wherein the diameter of the apertures ranges from about 1 millimeter to about 2 millimeters.

23. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the aperture density in the zone ranges from about 50 apertures per square inch to about 300 apertures per square inch.

24. The pad according to claim 23, wherein the zone is about 4 inches by 1.5 inches.

25. The pad according to claim 24, wherein the zone is generally located centrally and symmetrically on the cover.

26. The pad according to claim 25, wherein the apertures define an open area that ranges from about 2% to about 90% of the zone.

27. The pad according to claim 26, wherein the apertures define an open area that ranges from about 10% to about 40% of the open area of the zone.

28. A pad for absorbing bodily fluids and controlling odor created by the presence of the bodily fluids in the pad, the pad comprising:

(a) a liquid and vapor permeable cover having a periphery, the cover including;

(i) a nonwoven web formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester fibes, polyamide fibers, cellulosic fibers or polyolefin fibers the nonwoven web having a zone wherein from about 6 to about 1100 apertures per square inch are defined by the web within the zone;

(ii) a liquid impermeable and vapor permeable fluorocarbon composition selected from the group consisting of perfluoroalkyl acrylic copolymer or polytetrafluoroethylene adhered to said web; and

(iii) odor absorbing material, selected from the group consisting of one or more of carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, biphosphates, sulfates d bisulfates of alkali and alkaline earth metals, ascorbic acid, boric acid, citric acid and maleic acid, bound to the web by the fluorocarbon composition, the reagent being rendered hydrophobic by the composition;

(b) a liquid and vapor impermeable baffle having a periphery, the baffle being formed from a film selected from the group consisting of polypropylene or polyethylene film; and

(c) a liquid absorbent material, selected from the group consisting of cellulose, wood fluff, coform materials, meltblown materials, carded materials or sphagnum moss, disposed between the cover and the baffle; and

wherein the cover and the baffle are in general juxtapose position with respect to each other and are joined to each other at their respective peripheries.

29. The pad according to claim 28, wherein the diameter of the apertures ranges from about 0.8 millimeters to bout 10 millimeters.

30. The pad according to claim 29, wherein the diameter o the apertures ranges from about 1 millimeter to about 2 millimeters.

31. The pad according to claim 28, wherein the aperture density in the zone ranges from about 50 apertures per square inch to about 300 apertures per square inch.

32. The pad according to claim 31, wherein the zone is about 4 inches by 1.5 inches.

33. The pad according to claim 32, wherein the zone is generally located centrally and symmetrically on The cover.

34. The pad according to claim 33, wherein the apertures define an open area that ranges from about 2% to about 90% of the zone.

35. The pad according to claim 34, wherein the apertures define an open area that ranges from about 10% to about 40% of the open area of the zone.