Absorbent article with means for directional fluid distribution

• US 5,846,230 A
• Filed: 07/01/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Elder, Melisse Noel, Osborn, Thomas Ward III, Cree, James William, Schmitz, Deborah Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Clarke, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US08/886,831
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 604/378, 604/387, 604/885.1
• US Class Current: 604/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15252 compostable or biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47227 for interlabial use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51 characterised by the outer layers wicking or transfer layers A61F13/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5126 characterised by the planar distribution of the apertures, e.g. in a predefined pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53704 the layer having an inhibiting function on liquid propagation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53713 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the vertical 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 2013/15365 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/455 having a "W" shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49068 characterized by the shape of the outline
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51066 for rendering the surface hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5127 characterized by the dimension of apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530007 being made from pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530131 being made in fibre but being not pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53016 having special shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530554 and being fixed to a web
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530802 characterized by the foam or sponge other than superabsorbent A61F2013/530649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530934 having a density gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53472 : being a non-woven tissue wrapping the core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53726 : on the top layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53795 : being a surge management layer

Abstract

An absorbent article, such as a generally thin, flexible sanitary napkin with a topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core is provided. The absorbent article has a means for directional fluid distribution such as a fluid directing strip positioned between the topsheet and absorbent core, and an absorbent strip positioned between the topsheet and fluid directing strip. The relationships between the sizes of the fluid directing strip and the absorbent strip are such that the width of the fluid directing strip is greater than that of the absorbent strip and the length of the absorbent strip in greater than that of the fluid directing strip, so that bodily exudates may be directed toward the ends of the absorbent core even when the sanitary napkin assumes a body-conforming shape or is otherwise distorted during use.

Claims

1. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent core having a length, a width, and a pair of end edges positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

a liquid transporting component positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, said liquid transporting component having a length, a width, a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges wherein the length of said liquid transporting component is less than the length of said absorbent core; and

a liquid directing component for directing liquid exudates toward the end edges of said absorbent core by controlling the flow of the liquid exudates being transported by said liquid transporting component into said absorbent core, said liquid directing component being positioned between said liquid transporting component and said absorbent core, said liquid directing component having a length, a width, a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges, wherein;

at least one of the end edges of said liquid transporting component extends beyond the one of the end edges of said liquid directing component so that said liquid transporting component transports liquid exudates beyond the end edges of said liquid directing component.

2. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid transporting component comprises a strip of absorbent material.

3. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid transporting component comprises a laminate of two tissue layers with absorbent gelling material therebetween.

4. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein both ends of said liquid transporting component extend beyond the ends of said liquid directing component, and said liquid transporting component is joined to the underlying absorbent core only at the ends of said liquid transporting component and is unattached to any underlying element between said ends to provide an unattached portion of said liquid transporting component that is capable of separating from said absorbent core when said sanitary napkin is worn.

5. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid directing component is hydrophilic.

6. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid directing component is hydrophobic.

7. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid directing component comprises a liquid impervious structure.

8. The sanitary napkin of claim 7 wherein said liquid directing component comprises a strip of film.

9. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said sanitary napkin has a longitudinal centerline that extends in a longitudinal direction and said liquid directing component comprises a structure with a plurality of liquid directing channels extending in the longitudinal direction formed therein.

10. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said liquid directing component comprises a piece of foam.

11. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said liquid directing component comprises a strip of material having liquid directing channels with trapezoidal cross-sections.

12. The sanitary napkin of claim 11 wherein said trapezoidal-shaped channels have a base and walls, and at least one of said base and said walls have apertures provided therein.

13. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid directing component comprises a semi-liquid impervious structure.

14. The sanitary napkin of claim 13 wherein said liquid directing component comprises an apertured film.

15. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein both end edges of said liquid transporting component extend beyond the end edges of the liquid directing component.

16. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein at least one side edge of said liquid directing component extends laterally outward beyond one of the side edges of the liquid transporting component.

17. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein the width of said liquid transporting component is between about 1 cm and about 4 cm and the length of said liquid transporting component is between about 7 cm and about 15 cm.

18. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein the width of said liquid directing component is between about 0.3 cm to about 0.7 cm wider than said liquid transporting component, and the length of said liquid directing component is between about 0.3 cm to about 2 cm shorter than said liquid transporting component.

19. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid directing component has curved, concave inward side edges.

20. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said liquid transporting component and said liquid directing component comprise two separate elements.