Absorbent structure having multiple canals

• US 5,399,175 A
• Filed: 07/20/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Glaug, Frank S., Mattingly, William B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZUTTARELLI, ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US08/095,038
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/368-369, 604/378-385.1
• US Class Current: 604/385.101
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/475 characterised by edge leakage prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4756 the means consisting of grooves, e.g. channels, depressions or embossments, resulting in a heterogeneous surface level
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53717 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4587 with channels or deep spot depressions on the upper surface A61F13/4704 and A61F13/49001 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530525 the maximum being at front or rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530927 having longitudinal barriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530941 through the thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53778 with grooves

Abstract

An absorbent structure for absorbing body fluid is provided having means to direct body fluid along the longitudinal axis of the product and to substantially limit side failure. Two or more longitudinal chambers of absorbent material are provided which are separated by fluid repellent walls. These walls act to guide flow generally along the longitudinal axis of the product.

Claims

1. An absorbent product comprising:

a) an absorbent core having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and a garment-facing side, said transverse ends defining an absorbent core length therebetween;

b) a fluid permeable cover on said body-facing side; and

c) a plurality of absorbent chambers formed by fluid impermeable walls extending longitudinally within said absorbent core, said fluid impermeable walls preventing fluid communication between said chambers, said chambers containing absorbent material such that the absorbent material in each of said chambers is isolated from the absorbent material in adjacent chambers.

2. An absorbent product according to claim 1 wherein said fluid impermeable walls are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of moisture impermeable polymeric film and polymeric foam.

3. An absorbent structure according to claim 2 wherein said impermeable polymeric film is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and cellophane.

4. An absorbent product according to claim 2 wherein said polymeric foam comprises polyurethane.

5. An absorbent product according to claim 1 wherein said absorbent material comprises wood pulp fluff, regenerated cellulose, cotton fibers, peat moss or a combination thereof.

6. An absorbent product according to claim 1 wherein said absorbent material comprises high density absorbent located adjacent the garment-facing side of the absorbent structure and low density absorbent adjacent the body-facing side of the absorbent structure.

7. An absorbent product according to claim 6 wherein said high density absorbent comprises wood pulp fluff and superabsorbent.

8. An absorbent product according to claim 7 wherein said superabsorbent comprises a starch grafted polyacrylate powder.

9. An absorbent product according to claim 6 wherein said low density absorbent comprises wood pulp fluff, regenerated cellulose, rayon, cotton or a combination thereof.

10. An absorbent product according to claim 1, wherein said fluid controlling walls are as long as said absorbent core.

11. An absorbent product according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid impermeable barrier on said garment facing side, and wherein said fluid impermeable walls are formed by said fluid impermeable barrier.

12. An absorbent product according to claim 11, wherein said fluid impermeable walls are formed by folds formed in said fluid impermeable barrier between each of said absorbent chambers.

13. An absorbent product according to claim 1, wherein each of said chambers has a transverse width of approximately 0.5 inch.

14. An absorbent article having longitudinally extending sides, first and second transverse ends, a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, comprising:

a) a fluid permeable cover disposed on said body facing surface;

b) a fluid repellant barrier disposed on said garment facing surface;

c) a plurality of longitudinally extending chambers, each of said chambers separated by fluid controlling walls;

d) a first absorbent material disposed longitudinally in a central portion of each of said chambers; and

e) first and second fluid reservoirs for each of said chambers formed by a second absorbent material, each of said first fluid reservoirs disposed in its respective chamber between said first absorbent material and said first transverse end, each of said second fluid reservoirs disposed in its respective chamber between said first absorbent material and second transverse end, said first absorbent material having a lower density than said second absorbent material, whereby said first absorbent material wicks fluid longitudinally away from said central portion of each of said chambers to said fluid reservoirs.

15. An absorbent article according to claim 14, wherein said first absorbent material comprises cellulose fibers and said second absorbent material comprises a superabsorbent.

16. An absorbent product according to claim 14 wherein said fluid controlling walls are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nonwoven moisture impermeable fiber, moisture impermeable polymeric film, a repellent-treated fabric, repellent-treated tissue, moisture repellent fiber web, superabsorbent barrier or polymeric foam.

17. An absorbent article having first and second longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, comprising:

a) a fluid permeable cover disposed on said body facing surface;

b) a fluid repellant barrier disposed on said garment facing surface;

c) first, second and third longitudinally extending chambers, said first and second chambers separated by a first fluid controlling wall, said first and third chambers separated by a second fluid controlling wall, said first chamber being approximately centrally disposed between said first and second longitudinal sides, said second chamber being disposed between said first chamber and said first longitudinal side, said third chamber being disposed between said first chamber and said second longitudinal side; and

d) first, second and third adsorbents disposed in said first, second and third chambers, respectively, said second and third adsorbents each having greater hydrophobicity than said first absorbent.

18. An absorbent article according to claim 17, further comprising:

a) fourth and fifth longitudinally extending chambers, each of said chambers separated by fluid controlling walls, said fourth chamber being separated from said second chamber by a third fluid controlling wall and disposed between said second chamber and said first longitudinal side, said fifth chamber being separated from said third chamber by a fourth fluid controlling wall and disposed between said third chamber and said second longitudinal side; and

d) fourth and fifth adsorbents disposed in said fourth and fifth chambers, respectively, said fourth absorbent having greater hydrophobicity than said second absorbent, said fifth absorbent having greater hydrophobicity than said third absorbent.

19. An absorbent product according to claim 17 wherein said first and second fluid controlling walls are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nonwoven moisture impermeable fiber, moisture impermeable polymeric film, a repellent-treated fabric, repellent-treated tissue, moisture repellent fiber web, superabsorbent barrier and polymeric foam.

20. An absorbent article having first and second longitudinally extending sides, first and second transverse ends, a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, comprising:

a) a fluid permeable cover disposed on said garment facing surface;

b) a fluid repellant barrier disposed on said garment facing surface;

c) a first absorbent disposed in a portion of said article that is centrally disposed between said first and second longitudinal sides and between said first and second transverse ends;

d) a second absorbent surrounding said first absorbent wherein said second absorbent is more fluid repellant than said first absorbent; and

e) a first fluid controlling wall separating said first and second absorbents.

21. An absorbent article according to claim 20, wherein said second absorbent comprises a superabsorbent.

22. An absorbent article according to claim 20, further comprising a second fluid controlling wall extending transversely through said first absorbent so as divide said first absorbent into first and second portions.

23. An absorbent product according to claim 20 wherein said first and second fluid controlling walls are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nonwoven moisture impermeable fiber, moisture impermeable polymeric film, a repellent-treated fabric, repellent-treated tissue, moisture repellent fiber web, superabsorbent barrier or polymeric foam.