Absorbent article with improved fluid acquisition system

• US 6,509,513 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: First Quality Retail Services LLC (First Quality Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Retail Services Ag (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Joan, Cook, William H., Glaug, Frank S., Levy, Ruth
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, CATHARINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/847,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 604/378, 604/383
• US Class Current: 604/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53747 the layer is facing the topsheet layer is part of the topsheet A61F13/511
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15365 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15406 Basis weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53782 with holes

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article, e.g., a diaper, arranged to be worn by a wearer to trap and collect fluid waste products. The article has a flexible chassis made up of a top-sheet, a two layer fluid acquisition system, and a fluid absorbent core.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article arranged to be worn by a wearer to trap and collect fluid waste products of the wearer, said article being suitable accommodating multiple insults of said fluid waste products, said article comprising a longitudinal axis, a top-sheet, a fluid acquisition system, and a fluid absorbent core, said top-sheet having a portion forming a fluid intake zone, said longitudinal axis having a center, said top-sheet portion being formed of a single layer of a fluid pervious fibrous material, said fluid acquisition system comprising a first fluid acquisition layer and a second fluid acquisition layer, said first fluid acquisition layer comprising an apertured film, said second fluid acquisition layer comprising a fibrous, fluid pervious material, said absorbent core comprising a fluid absorbing material suitable for accommodating multiple insults of said fluid waste products, said fluid intake zone making up a portion of the area of said absorbent core and being located along said longitudinal axis offset from said center, said first fluid acquisition layer being located directly over said second fluid acquisition layer and directly under and contiguous with said top-sheet at said fluid intake zone, said second fluid acquisition layer being located under said first fluid acquisition layer at said fluid intake zone and directly over and contiguous with said absorbent core so that said first and second fluid acquisition layers are positioned directly within said fluid intake zone of said top-sheet, and wherein at least one of said first and second fluid acquisition layers is at least coextensive in size with said fluid intake zone and neither of said first and second fluid acquisition layers is coextensive in size with said top-sheet.

2. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein both of said first and second fluid acquisition layers are at least the size of said fluid intake zone.

3. The disposable absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said first and second fluid acquisition layers are coextensive in size.

4. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said first fluid acquisition layer is at least coextensive in size with said fluid intake zone.

5. The disposable absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said second fluid acquisition layer is larger in size than said first fluid acquisition layer.

6. The disposable absorbent article of claim 5 wherein said second fluid acquisition layer comprises an adhesive bonded polyester.

7. The disposable absorbent article of claim 5 wherein said second fluid acquisition layer comprises spun bond polypropylene with high denier fibers.

8. The disposable absorbent article of claim 6 wherein said second fluid acquisition layer has a basis weight in the range of approximately 12.8 to 17 gsm.

9. The disposable absorbent article of claim 7 wherein said second fluid acquisition layer has a basis weight in the range of approximately 15 to 17 gsm.

10. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each of said fluid acquisition layers has a predetermined length and a predetermined width, wherein said width of said first and second fluid acquisition layers is the same, and wherein said length of said first and second fluid acquisition layers is the same.

11. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each of said fluid acquisition layers has a predetermined length and a predetermined width, wherein said width of is greater than said width of said second acquisition layer, and wherein said length of said first fluid acquisition layer is greater than said length of said second acquisition layer.

12. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each of said first fluid acquisition layers has a predetermined length and a predetermined width, wherein said width of said first fluid acquisition layer is greater than said width of said second acquisition layer, and wherein said length of said second fluid acquisition layer is greater than said length of said first acquisition layer.

13. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each of said acquisition layers has a predetermined length and a predetermined width wherein said width of said second acquisition layer is greater than said width of said fluid acquisition layer, and wherein said length of said second acquisition layer is greater than said length of said fluid acquisition layers.

14. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 wherein each of said fluid acquisition layer has a predetermined length and a predetermined width, wherein said width of said second acquisition layer is greater than said width of said first fluid acquisition layer, and wherein said length of said first fluid acquisition layer is greater than said length of said second acquisition layer.

15. The disposable absorbent article of claim 10 wherein said core has a predetermined length and a predetermined width and wherein the width of said core is at least equal to the width of said first fluid acquisition layer.

16. The disposable absorbent article of claim 11 wherein said core has a predetermined length and a predetermined width and wherein the width of said core is at least equal to the width of said first fluid acquisition layer.

17. The disposable absorbent article of claim 12 wherein said core has a predetermined length and a predetermined width and wherein the width of said core is at least equal to the width of said first fluid acquisition layer.

18. The disposable absorbent article of claim 13 wherein said core has a predetermined length and a predetermined width and wherein the width of said core is at least equal to the width of said first acquisition layer.

19. The disposable absorbent article of claim 14 wherein said core has a predetermined length and a predetermined width and wherein the width of said core is at least equal to the width of said first fluid acquisition layer.