Absorbent components having a fluid acquisition zone
First Claim
1. An absorbent core capable of absorbing discharged body fluids, the absorbent core comprising.(1) a fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of receiving aqueous fluids in the fluid discharge region of the absorbent core, wherein the fluid acquisition/distribution component either(a) contains less than about 50%, by weight of the acquisition/distribution component, of absorbent hydrogel-forming polymer;
- or(b) contains at least 50%, by weight of the acquisition/distribution component, of absorbent hydrogel-forming polymer, the absorbent hydrogel-forming polymer having a Saline Flow Conductivity (SFC) value of at least about 50×
10-7 cm3 sec/g; and
(2) at least one fluid storage component positioned at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with the fluid acquisition/distribution component, said at least one fluid storage component being capable of swelling in the z-direction when saturated with aqueous body fluids so as to form a fluid acquisition zone, said fluid acquisition zone comprising a space substantially devoid of absorbent material adjacent said at least one fluid storage component, and said at least one fluid storage component being restrained so as to prevent substantial swelling of said at least one fluid storage component toward said fluid acquisition zone and so that any swelling of said at least one fluid storage component toward said fluid acquisition zone will be substantially less than said swelling of aid at least one fluid storage component in said z-direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to an absorbent core capable of absorbing discharged aqueous body fluids. The core contains a swellable fluid storage material that forms, upon contact with aqueous body fluids, a fluid acquisition zone. The fluid acquisition zone is located remote from the user, to avoid flowback or rewetting of the topsheet of an article containing the core. The disclosure further relates to an absorbent article useful for absorbing discharged aqueous body fluids that comprises: A) a fluid pervious topsheet; B) a backsheet; and C) an absorbent core, as described above, positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.
177 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An absorbent core capable of absorbing discharged body fluids, the absorbent core comprising.
(1) a fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of receiving aqueous fluids in the fluid discharge region of the absorbent core, wherein the fluid acquisition/distribution component either (a) contains less than about 50%, by weight of the acquisition/distribution component, of absorbent hydrogel-forming polymer; - or
(b) contains at least 50%, by weight of the acquisition/distribution component, of absorbent hydrogel-forming polymer, the absorbent hydrogel-forming polymer having a Saline Flow Conductivity (SFC) value of at least about 50×
10-7 cm3 sec/g; and(2) at least one fluid storage component positioned at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with the fluid acquisition/distribution component, said at least one fluid storage component being capable of swelling in the z-direction when saturated with aqueous body fluids so as to form a fluid acquisition zone, said fluid acquisition zone comprising a space substantially devoid of absorbent material adjacent said at least one fluid storage component, and said at least one fluid storage component being restrained so as to prevent substantial swelling of said at least one fluid storage component toward said fluid acquisition zone and so that any swelling of said at least one fluid storage component toward said fluid acquisition zone will be substantially less than said swelling of aid at least one fluid storage component in said z-direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 34)
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8. An absorbent core capable of absorbing discharged body fluids, the absorbent core having a fluid discharge region and comprising:
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(1) an upper fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of receiving aqueous fluids in the fluid discharge region of the absorbent core; (2) an upper fluid storage component at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with said upper fluid acquisition/distribution component, said upper fluid storage component being permeable to the flow of aqueous body fluids in the z-direction; (3) a lower fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of acquiring and transporting aqueous body fluids, the lower fluid acquisition/distribution component being positioned at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with the upper fluid storage component; and (4) at least one lower fluid storage component positioned at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with the lower fluid acquisition/distribution component, said at least one lower fluid storage component being capable of swelling in the z-direction when saturated with aqueous body fluids so as to form a fluid acquisition zone, said fluid acquisition zone comprising a space substantially devoid of absorbent material adjacent said at least one lower fluid storage component, and said at least one lower fluid storage component being restrained so as to prevent substantial swelling of said at least one lower fluid storage component toward said fluid acquisition zone and so that any swelling of said at least one lower fluid storage component toward said fluid acquisition zone will be substantially less than said swelling of said at least one lower fluid storage component in said z-direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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31. An absorbent core capable of absorbing discharged aqueous body fluids, said absorbent core having a fluid discharge region and comprising:
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(1) an upper fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of receiving aqueous fluids, the upper fluid acquisition/distribution component being positioned in the fluid discharge region of the absorbent core and comprising chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers that are thermally bonded with a thermoplastic material; (2) an upper fluid storage component at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with said upper fluid acquisition/distribution component, said upper fluid storage component being permeable to the flow of aqueous body fluids in the z-direction; (3) a lower fluid acquisition/distribution component capable of acquiring and transporting aqueous body fluids, the lower fluid acquisition/distribution component being positioned at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with the upper fluid storage component, wherein the lower fluid acquisition/distribution component comprises from 0 to about 30%, by weight, of a hydrogel-forming polymer polymer; and (4) two lower fluid storage components positioned at least partially underneath and in fluid communication with the lower fluid acquisition/distribution component, the two lower fluid storage components being capable of swelling in the z-direction when saturated with aqueous body fluids so as to form a fluid acquisition zone, said fluid acquisition zone comprising a space substantially devoid of absorbent material between said two lower fluid storage components, and both of said lower fluid storage components being restrained so as to prevent substantial swelling of said two lower fluid storage components toward said fluid acquisition zone and so that any swelling of said two lower fluid storage components toward said fluid acquisition zone will be substantially less than said swelling of said two lower fluid storage components in said z-direction, wherein the lower storage components are in the form of spaced apart strips that run longitudinally in the absorbent core, and wherein both lower fluid storage components comprise material selected from the group consisting of a fluid stable macrostructure of interconnected, hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer particles and a collapsable, open celled foam. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 39, 40)
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Specification