Liquid-absorbing article

• US 5,788,684 A
• Filed: 03/12/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Welchel, Debra Nell, Abuto, Frank Paul, Sullivan, Carmen Elissa
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUHL, DENNIS WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/614,028
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/369, 604/378, 604/379, 604/380, 604/368, 604/383, 604/372, 604/385.1
• US Class Current: 604/368
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53713 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the vertical direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53717 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53747 the layer is facing the topsheet layer is part of the topsheet A61F13/511
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5376 characterised by the performance of the layer, e.g. acquisition rate, distribution time, transfer time
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15406 Basis weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15422 Density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15439 with a density gradient in the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15552 Air permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51078 being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5149 being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53024 being bicomponent fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530562 being arranged in discontinuous pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530613 in fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530627 in flakes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530729 by the swelling rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530875 : having holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530941 : through the thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5373 : on the bottom layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53734 : with compressed lines
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53778 : with grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53782 : with holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53925 : with intermittent pattern, e.g. spots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8491 : including test methods

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a liquid-absorbing article which employs a high absorbency material such as superabsorbent particles. The particles are housed within discrete chambers formed within an absorbent core so as to provide access to incoming liquid and ample area for the particles to expand as they absorb the incoming liquid.

Claims

1. A liquid-absorbing article comprising:

a liquid-permeable top sheet and a bottom sheet with an absorbent core disposed therebetween, said absorbent core defining a plurality of apertures therein extending from a top surface through said absorbent core to a bottom surface, said top surface being attached to said top sheet and said bottom surface being attached to said bottom sheet, and a high absorbency material located within at least a portion of said apertures, and wherein either or both said top sheet and said bottom sheet are releasably attached to said absorbent core by attachment means, said attachment means providing a bond strength between said absorbent core and either said top sheet or said bottom sheet which is less than a swelling force exerted on said top sheet or said bottom sheet when said high absorbency material is exposed to an aqueous liquid such that said top sheet or bottom sheet will delaminate from said absorbent core before said top sheet or bottom sheet ruptures from said swelling force.

2. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 1 wherein said absorbent core has a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a lower density than said second portion.

3. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 2 which further includes a personal care absorbent article comprising a bodyside liner and a backside liner with said liquid-absorbing article disposed between said bodyside liner and said backside liner.

4. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 1 which further includes a personal care absorbent article comprising a bodyside liner and a backside liner with said liquid-absorbing article disposed between said bodyside liner and said backside liner.

5. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 1 wherein said absorbent core in an area devoid of said plurality of apertures has a density of less than 0.08 grams per cubic centimeter.

6. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 5 wherein said absorbent core layer has a Frazier air permeability greater than 60 m³ /m² /min.

7. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 6 wherein said absorbent core while under a pressure of 0.3 kilopascals has a thickness of at least 0.5 centimeters.

8. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 7 wherein said absorbent core has a specific volume at zero load which is greater than 18 cubic centimeters per gram.

9. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 1 wherein said absorbent core has a plurality of densified areas.

10. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 9 wherein said densified areas extend between and connect at least a portion of said plurality of apertures.

11. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 1 wherein said absorbent core is a fibrous nonwoven web.

12. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 11 wherein said web includes bicomponent fibers.

13. A liquid-absorbing article comprising:

a liquid permeable top sheet and a bottom sheet with an absorbent core disposed therebetween, said absorbent core including a first portion and a second portion in vertical registry with one another, said first portion being attached to said top sheet and defining a first plurality of apertures therein and extending therethrough and said second portion being attached to said bottom sheet and defining a second plurality of apertures therein and extending therethrough, at least a portion of said second plurality of apertures not being in vertical registry with said first plurality of apertures, said first plurality of apertures being filled with a high absorbency material and said secondary plurality of apertures being filled with a second high absorbency material, said high absorbency material having an absorption rate which is faster than said second high absorbency material.

14. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 13 wherein said first portion has a lower density than said second portion.

15. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 13 which further includes a personal care absorbent article comprising a bodyside liner and a backside liner with said liquid-absorbing article disposed between said bodyside liner and said backside liner.

16. A liquid-absorbing article comprising:

a liquid permeable top sheet and a bottom sheet with an absorbent core disposed therebetween, said absorbent core including a first portion and a second portion in vertical registry with one another, said first portion being attached to said top sheet and defining a first plurality of apertures therein and extending therethrough and said second portion being attached to said bottom sheet and defining a second plurality of apertures therein and extending therethrough, at least a portion of said second plurality of apertures not being in vertical registry with said first plurality of apertures, and a high absorbency material located within at least a portion of either or both of said first and second plurality of apertures, wherein either or both said top sheet and said bottom sheet are releasably attached to said absorbent core by attachment means, said attachment means providing a bond strength between said absorbent core and either said top sheet or said bottom sheet which is less than swelling force exerted on said top sheet or said bottom sheet when said high absorbency material is exposed to an aqueous liquid such that said top sheet or bottom sheet will delaminate from said absorbent core before said top sheet or bottom sheet ruptures from said swelling force.

17. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 16 wherein said first plurality of apertures are filled with a high absorbency material and said second plurality of apertures are filled with a second high absorbency material, said high absorbency material having an absorption rate which is faster than said second high absorbency material.

18. The liquid-absorbing article of claim 16 wherein said first plurality of apertures are filled with a high absorbency material and said second plurality of apertures are filled with a second high absorbency material, said high absorbency material having an absorption rate which is slower than said second high absorbency material.

19. A personal care absorbent article comprising:

a bodyside liner and a backside liner with a liquid-absorbing article according to claim 16 disposed between said bodyside liner and said backside liner.

20. A liquid-absorbing article comprising:

a liquid permeable top sheet and a bottom sheet with an absorbent core disposed therebetween, said absorbent core including a first portion and a second portion in vertical registry with one another, said first portion being attached to said top sheet and defining a first plurality of apertures therein and extending therethrough and said second portion being attached to said bottom sheet and defining a second plurality of apertures therein and extending therethrough, at least a portion of said second plurality of apertures not being in vertical registry with said first plurality of apertures, said first plurality of apertures being filled with a high absorbency material and said second plurality of apertures being filled with a second high absorbency material, said high absorbency material having an absorption rate which is slower than said second high absorbency material.

21. A personal care absorbent article comprising:

a bodyside liner and a backside liner with a liquid-absorbing article according to claim 20 disposed between said bodyside liner and said backside liner.