Absorbent article using extensible leg cuffs

• US 6,117,121 A
• Filed: 12/11/1995
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Odorzynski, Thomas Walter, Faulks, Michael John, Schlinz, Daniel Robert, Serbiak, Paul John, Schleinz, Alan Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/570,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/378, 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/383, 604/373
• US Class Current: 604/385.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4942 the barrier not being integral with the top- or back-sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49028 with different tensile stress
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4944 having multiple barriers

Abstract

An absorbent article includes an absorbent core located between a bodyside liner and an outer cover. A leg cuff is mounted to a base structure of the absorbent article in the crotch portion thereof. The leg cuffs are partially stretched when attached to respective longitudinal side portions near the crotch portion of the absorbent article. An outboard edge of the leg cuffs is generally unattached to the base structure of the absorbent article and can be stretched beyond the length of that portion of the base structure along which the leg cuffs are mounted. The leg cuffs may be mounted at an angle of between 5 and 25 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. The leg cuffs extend outwardly toward the rear portion of the absorbent article and inwardly in the front portion when mounted at an angle.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a front portion and a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, a longitudinal axis extending through said front, rear and crotch portions, said absorbent article having opposing longitudinal sides, with said longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said absorbent article comprising:

(a) an outer cover;

(b) a bodyside liner mounted to said outer cover, said outer cover and said bodyside liner forming, in combination, a base structure;

(c) an absorbent core located between said bodyside liner and said outer cover; and

(d) first and second extensible leg cuffs attached to said base structure at attachment loci along the respective opposing longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion, said leg cuffs being partially stretched when said base structure is fully extended, each said leg cuff having an inboard edge mounted on a respective portion of said base structure and extending outwardly to an outboard edge spaced outwardly from a respective lateral edge of said base structure each said outboard edge being attached to said base structure at an end thereof;

whereby said leg cuffs retract and gather said base structure in said crotch portion when said extensible leg cuffs are relaxed,

and whereby when said base structure is fully extended, said leg cuffs can be further stretched at said outboard edges, such that the outboard edges are stretchable to lengths greater than the lengths of the respsective inboard edges and retract to lengths less than the lengths of the respective inboard edges.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, said leg cuffs extending outwardly from said attachment loci in a constantly outward direction to the respective said outboard edges.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, said leg cuffs being substantially confined to said crotch portion of said absorbent article.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1, at least said outboard edges of the respective said leg cuffs being movable independent of said base structure of said absorbent article.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, said leg cuffs having facing surfaces thereof, and portions of such facing surfaces facing said base structure, said leg cuffs being attached to said base structure over the entireties of said facing portions.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, each respective said leg cuff having an unattached width thereof, between the respective said lateral edge of said base structure and said outboard edge of the respective said leg cuff, of between about 0.1 inch and 1.5 inches.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs are stretched from 5% to 95% of a total potential elongation of said leg cuffs when said base structure is fully extended.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7 wherein said leg cuffs are stretched between 50% and 80%, of the total potential elongation of said leg cuffs, when said base structure is fully extended.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have a maximum elongation of approximately 200% of the relaxed length of said leg cuffs.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein said leg cuffs are approximately 1.5 inches wide and exert approximately 225 grams of retractile force at 90% ultimate elongation.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have a rectangular shape.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have an elliptical shape.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have a contoured shape.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have a length to width ratio between 2:

1 and 20;

1.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have a length to width ratio of between 5:

1 and 15;

1.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs have a length to width ratio of approximately 7:

1.

17. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs comprise a laminate including first and second outer nonwoven facing layers on opposing sides of an elastomeric core layer.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 wherein said elastomeric core layer comprises a styrene ethylene butylene styrene terpolymer.

19. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said leg cuffs are attached to said bodyside liner.

20. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said extensible leg cuffs represent the entirety of retractile forces operative in the longitudinal direction at longitudinal sides of said crotch portion.

21. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein containment flaps are mounted upon said bodyside liner along each of the opposing longitudinal sides at said crotch portion in a substantially parallel direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, said containment flaps being spaced inwardly from said leg cuffs.

22. An absorbent article having a front portion and a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, a longitudinal axis extending through said front, rear and crotch portions, said absorbent article having opposing longitudinal sides, with said longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said absorbent article comprising:

(a) an outer cover;

(b) a bodyside liner mounted to said outer cover, said outer cover and said bodyside liner forming, in combination, a base structure;

(c) an absorbent core located between said bodyside liner and said outer cover;

(d) first and second extensible leg cuffs attached to said base structure along the respective opposing longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion, said leg cuffs each having an inboard edge mounted upon a respective portion of said base structure, said leg cuffs extending from the inboard edge outwardly to an outboard edge spaced outwardly from the respective lateral edge of said base structure, said leg cuffs being operatively confined to said crotch portion; and

(e) a fastener mounted to said base structure, securing said absorbent article to the body of a user;

whereby said leg cuffs stretch and retract in said crotch portion independently of any respective stretching and retracting of said base structure, such that outboard edges of said absorbent article are defined by said leg cuffs in said front and rear portions.

23. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said extensible leg cuffs represent the entirety of retractile forces operative in the longitudinal direction at longitudinal sides of said crotch portion.

24. The absorbent article of claim 22, said leg cuffs having facing surfaces thereof, and portions of such facing surfaces facing said base structure, said leg cuffs being attached to said base structure over the entireties of said facing portions.

25. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said leg cuffs are stretched from 50% to 80% of a total potential elongation of said leg cuffs, when said base structure is fully extended.

26. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said leg cuffs have a length to width ratio between 2:

1 and 20;

1.

27. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein said leg cuffs comprise a laminate including first and second outer spunbonded facing layers on opposing sides of an elastomeric core layer.

28. The absorbent article of claim 27 wherein said elastomeric core layer comprises a styrene ethylene butylene styrene terpolymer.

29. The absorbent article of claim 22 wherein containment flaps are mounted upon said bodyside liner along each of the opposing longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion in a substantially parallel direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, said containment flaps being spaced inwardly from said leg cuffs.

30. An absorbent article having a front portion and a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, a longitudinal axis extending through said front, rear and crotch portions, said absorbent article having opposing longitudinal sides, with said longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said absorbent article comprising:

(a) an outer cover;

(b) a bodyside liner mounted to said outer cover, said outer cover and said bodyside liner forming, in combination, a base structure having a relatively narrow crotch width;

(c) an absorbent core located between said bodyside liner and said outer cover; and

(d) first and second extensible leg cuffs attached to said base structure along the respective opposing longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion, said leg cuffs being operatively confined to said crotch portion, each said leg cuff having an outboard edge spaced outwardly from a respective lateral edge of said base structure, said leg cuffs each being mounted such that rear ends thereof are disposed at angles between 5 degrees and 25 degrees from respective front ends thereof, with respect to said longitudinal axis, the apex of the angle being located toward said front portion of said absorbent article, the combination of angles and the relatively narrow crotch width being effective to attenuate tendency of the front portion to be pulled downward in response to movement of the user'"'"'s legs.

31. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said leg cuffs each have an inboard edge mounted upon a respective portion of said base structure, each said outboard edge being attached at ends thereof to the respective said portion of said base structure outwardly of the respective inboard edge.

32. The absorbent article of claim 30, at least the respective said outboard edges of said leg cuffs remaining further extensible when said base structure upon which said leg cuffs are mounted is fully extended.

33. The absorbent article of claim 30, at least said outboard edges of the respective said leg cuffs being movable independent of said base structure of said absorbent article.

34. The absorbent article of claim 30, said leg cuffs having facing surfaces thereof, and portions of such facing surfaces facing said base structure, said leg cuffs being attached to said base structure over the entireties of said facing portions.

35. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said leg cuffs are stretched from 50% to 80% of a total potential elongation of said leg cuffs when said base structure is fully extended.

36. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said leg cuffs have a rectangular shape.

37. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said leg cuffs have an elliptical shape.

38. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said leg cuffs have a contoured shape.

39. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said leg cuffs have a length to width ratio between 2:

1 and 20;

1.

40. The absorbent article of claim 30, wherein said leg cuffs are formed by a laminate including first and second outer spunbonded facing layers on opposing sides of an elastomeric core layer.

41. The absorbent article of claim 40 wherein said elastomeric core layer comprises a styrene ethylene butylene styrene terpolymer.

42. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein said extensible leg cuffs represent the entirety of retractile forces operative in the longitudinal direction at longitudinal sides of said crotch portion.

43. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein when each said inboard edge is mounted upon a respective portion of said base structure, and wherein, when said base structure is fully extended, each said outboard edge is stretchable to a length greater than the respective mounted length of said inboard edge and is retractable to a length less than the respective mounted length of said inboard edge.

44. The absorbent article of claim 30 wherein containment flaps are mounted upon said bodyside liner along each of the opposing longitudinal sides at said crotch portion in a substantially parallel direction with respect to said longitudinal axis, said containment flaps being spaced inwardly from said leg cuffs.

45. An absorbent article having a front portion and a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, a longitudinal axis extending through said front, rear and crotch portions, said absorbent article having opposing longitudinal sides, with said longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said absorbent article comprising:

(a) an outer cover;

(b) a bodyside liner mounted to said outer cover, said outer cover and said bodyside liner forming, in combination, a base structure;

(c) an absorbent core located between said bodyside liner and said outer cover; and

(d) first and second extensible leg cuffs attached to said base structure along the respective opposing longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion, said leg cuffs having outboard edges thereof spaced outwardly from respective lateral edges of said base structure, said leg cuffs being operatively confined to said crotch portion, said leg cuffs being partially stretched, between 50 percent and 80 percent of total potential elongation when said base structure is fully extended such that the outboard edges can stretch and flex when the base structure is fully extended;

the enhanced expansion and contraction capabilities of said partially stretched leg cuffs, relative to said base structure, providing a relatively wider range of sizes of users on which said absorbent article can readily be used.

46. The absorbent article of claim 45, said leg cuffs being stretched a different length at an inboard edge which is mounted upon a respective portion of said base structure than a length at said outboard edge of said leg cuff, wherein said different length of each respective said inboard edge with respect to each respective said outboard edge of each said leg cuff shapes each respective said leg cuff in a curved manner when attached to said base structure.

47. The absorbent article of claim 45, at least the respective said outboard edges of said leg cuffs remaining further extensible when said base structure upon which said leg cuffs are mounted is fully extended.

48. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein each respective said leg cuff has an unattached width thereof, between the respective said lateral edge of said base structure and said outboard edge of the respective said leg cuff, of between about 0.1 inch and 1.5 inches.

49. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein said leg cuffs comprise a laminate including first and second outer nonwoven facing layers on opposing sides of an elastomeric core.

50. An absorbent article having a front portion and a rear portion, and a crotch portion connecting said front and rear portions, a longitudinal axis extending through said front, rear and crotch portions, said absorbent article having opposing longitudinal sides, with said longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said absorbent article comprising:

(a) an outer cover;

(b) a bodyside liner mounted to said outer cover, said outer cover and said bodyside liner forming, in combination, a base structure, said base structure including opposing leg cut outs in said crotch portion;

(c) an absorbent core located between said bodyside liner and said outer cover; and

(d) first and second extensible leg cuffs attached to said base structure along the respective longitudinal sides of said absorbent article at said crotch portion, said leg cuffs spanning the length of said leg cut outs in said crotch portion of said absorbent article, and being partially stretched in the crotch portion when said base structure is fully extended, each said leg cuff having an outboard edge spaced outwardly from a respective lateral edge of said base structure at the respective said leg cut outs substantially straight portions of said leg cuffs spanning curvilinear lateral edge portions of said base structure in said crotch portion;

whereby said leg cuffs operate to extend the effective width of the base structure with material that retracts and expands independently of the base structure to which such leg cuffs are attached.

51. An absorbent article of claim 50, wherein each said leg cuff has an inboard edge mounted upon a respective portion of said base structure, each said outboard edge being attached at ends thereof to the respective said portion of said base structure.