Topsheet for use in disposable body fluid absorptive articles

• US 5,449,352 A
• Filed: 03/21/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals Incorporated (Mitsui Chemicals), Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd., Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Motomura, Shigeyuki, Takai, Hisashi, Kido, Tsutomu, Igaue, Takamitsu, Nishino, Kazunari, Shimizu, Shizuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZUTTARELLI, ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US08/210,997
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/366-367, 604/370, 604/, 604/375, 604/378-385.1, 602/43-47
• US Class Current: 604/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15731 Treating webs, e.g. for giving them a fibrelike appearance, e.g. by embossing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15739 Sealing, e.g. involving cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5116 being formed of multiple layers A61F13/5123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5123 the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15447 Fibre dimension, e.g. denier or tex
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15967 by meltblown technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15991 in making composite multi-layered product
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51078 being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51165 with the combination of films and nonwovens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51173 with the combination of polymeric films
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51178 with the combination of nonwoven webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51182 with non-continuous bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5127 characterized by the dimension of apertures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component

Abstract

A topsheet for use in body fluid absorptive articles is so improved that collapse and clogging of liquid passages therein may be reliably avoided. The topsheet includes an upper sheet, provided with skin-contacting areas and liquid passages, and a lower sheet provided with skin-non-contacting areas, areas welded to the liquid passages, and exposed areas. The exposed areas are welded to each of the liquid passages around lower openings thereof so as to protect the liquid passage against collapse and clogging. The exposed areas define a skin-contacting surface which rises up into each of the liquid passages without extending above the upper surface of the skin-contacting areas. The upper sheet cooperates with the lower sheet to define cavities extending in the direction of the topsheet thickness.

Claims

1. A topsheet for use in body fluid absorptive articles, comprising:

(1) a first sheet made of thermoplastic film and a second sheet made of nonwoven fabric of thermoplastic fibers,

(2) said first sheet being provided with a plurality of liquid passages each extending through said topsheet from tan upper opening to a lower opening of said passage, and a skin-contacting area continuously formed around said upper openings,

(3) said second sheet underlying said first sheet and provided with a skin-non-contacting area opposed to said skin-contacting area, areas welded to said liquid passages along peripheral edges of said lower openings, and exposed areas within said liquid passages, each of said exposed areas having a side wall and an apex rising up into each of said liquid passages without extending above an upper surface of said skin-contacting area, and

(4) there are defined cavities between side walls of said liquid passages, and said skin-non-contacting area is spaced by said liquid passages from said skin-contacting area.

2. A topsheet according to claim 1, wherein said first sheet is hydrophobic and said second sheet is hydrophilic.