Disposable absorbent article with flushable insert

• US 5,613,959 A
• Filed: 02/14/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Leick, Marianne K., Leick, Kenneth A., Hanson, Paula M., Werner, Edward E., Roessler, Thomas H., Cesco-Cancian, Annamaria, Endres, Dan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, MARYBETH O
• Application Number:
  US08/388,084
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 604/364, 604/385.1, 604/386, 604/387, 604/391, 604/393, 604/394, 604/396, 604/397, 604/398
• US Class Current: 604/364
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15211 soluble or disintegratable in liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49009 with elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/491 specially adapted for gender distinct urine discharge pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49413 the edge leakage prevention means being an upstanding barrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/505 with separable parts, e.g. combination of disposable and reusable parts, A61F13/20, A61F13/49003 take precedence; supporting or fastening means A61F13/56; belts or the like A61F13/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/511 Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/58 Adhesive tab fastener elements A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15219 by mechanical separation of water resistant parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15235 by its solubility in water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15365 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15406 Basis weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15422 Density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15869 with ultrasonic energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/1591 via adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4581 with absorbent core in separated pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49025 having multiple elastic strands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49031 being elastic in longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49038 the elastic means is located all around the absorbent article's perimeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4944 : having multiple barriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4948 : the edge leakage prevention means being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4955 : with separable, disposable upper body layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5055 : Possibility of doubling or putting in new pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51035 : being biodegradable, e.g. Rayon, polylactate, dioxanone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51066 : for rendering the surface hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51409 : being a film
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51433 : being biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5149 : being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530007 : being made from pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530021 : being made in soft wood pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53035 : of cotton
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 : having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530489 : being randomly mixed in with other material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53051 : being only in particular parts or specially arranged
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5307 : characterized by the quantity or ratio of superabsorbent material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530795 : being biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5677 : refastenable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/588 : on waist panels

Abstract

A disposable article, such as a diaper, for absorbing and containing urine and other body exudates has an absorbent insert pad that may be flushed in a toilet. The article preferably includes a backing sheet and a bodyside liner that are substantially coterminous. In one embodiment of the invention, a secondary absorbent body, which is disposed between the backing sheet and the bodyside liner, has a pocket formed therein. The absorbent insert pad is positioned against the bodyside liner and located generally within the pocket. A cover is releasably attached to the bodyside liner to maintain the insert pad within the pocket.

Claims

1. An absorbent article, comprising;

a shell free of absorbent material and formed of a bodyside liner and a substantially liquid impervious backing sheet, the bodyside liner and the backing sheet being bonded directly together in face-to-face intimate contact, the shell defining a front waist section, a back waist section, and opposed first and second sides extending between the front and back waist sections;

a pair of containment flaps attached to the bodyside liner, the containment flaps extending between the front and back waist sections and being positioned inward of the respective first and second sides;

an insert pad formed of a flushable absorbent material, the insert pad positioned against the bodyside liner and between the containment flaps; and

a cover for releasably maintaining the insert pad in position relative to the bodyside liner.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the flushable absorbent material comprises at least about 20 weight percent high-absorbency material that is adapted to absorb at least 15 times its weight in water.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the flushable absorbent material comprises at least about 50 weight percent high-absorbency material that is adapted to absorb at least 15 times its weight in water.

4. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the flushable absorbent material comprises at least one low-wet-strength tissue sheet positioned adjacent at least one thin absorbent sheet.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the cover is attached to the bodyside liner and the cover includes at least one line of perforations therein.

6. An absorbent article, comprising:

a shell comprising a bodyside liner and a substantially liquid impervious backing sheet, the bodyside liner and the backing sheet being in face-to-face intimate contact;

an insert pad positioned against the bodyside liner, the insert pad comprising a flushable absorbent material including at least about 20 weight percent high-absorbency material, the flushable absorbent material wrapped in a flushable, dispersable carrier sheet;

a cover positioned over the insert pad, the cover having sides releasably attached to the bodyside liner; and

a pair of containment flaps bonded to the cover, wherein the cover comprises lines of relative weakness and the containment flaps are positioned inboard of the lines of relative weakness.