Absorbent article

• US 6,528,698 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Ota, Akiko, Tamura, Tatsuya, Mizutani, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruhl, Dennis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, CATHARINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/883,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 604/378, 604/381, 604/382, 604/385.08, 604/328, 604/385.01, 604/367, 604/372
• US Class Current: 604/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51104 the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51305 having areas of different permeability

Abstract

Provided is an absorbent article including a back sheet, an absorbent layer, and a top sheet covering at least the absorbent layer. The top sheet includes a fiber layer, and a resin layer which is applied to the surface of the fiber layer in a plurality of band-shaped rows. At least one of the rows is a discontinuous row composed of discontinuous band-shaped portions arranged at a spacing in the axial direction of the row. The area not having the resin layer between adjacent discontinuous band-shaped portions in the axial direction of the row is located at least in the region covering the absorbent layer. Accordingly, the top sheet is liquid-permeable between the adjacent rows and in the area not having the resin layer between adjacent discontinuous band-shaped portions in the axial direction of the row.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a back sheet;

an absorbent layer; and

a top sheet covering at least said absorbent layer,

wherein said top sheet includes a fiber layer, and a resin layer which is applied to the surface of said fiber layer in a plurality of rectangular-shaped rows, at least one of said rectangular-shaped rows being a discontinuous row composed of discontinuous rectangular-shaped portions arranged at a spacing in an axial direction of the discontinuous row, and an area not having said resin layer between adjacent discontinuous rectangular-shaped portions in the axial direction of the discontinuous row is located at least in a region covering said absorbent layer, so that said top sheet is liquid-permeable between adjacent rows and in said area not having said resin layer between adjacent discontinuous rectangular-shaped portions in the axial direction of the discontinuous row, and some of said rectangular-shaped rows, other than said discontinuous rows extend continuously in the axial direction to provide continuous rows.

2. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said continuous rows are disposed in two side regions of said absorbent article, which lie opposite one another in the transverse direction, and said discontinuous rows are disposed in a central region sandwiched between the two side regions.

3. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1,

wherein at least one of said continuous rows is formed between adjacent discontinuous rows.

4. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fiber layer forming said top sheet having a hole passing therethrough that is formed between adjacent discontinuous rectangular-shaped portions in the axial direction of the discontinuous row.

5. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 4, wherein said hole has a diameter larger than a width of said discontinuous row.

6. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 4, wherein said hole has a diameter larger than an array pitch of said discontinuous row.

7. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 4, wherein a part of said discontinuous rectangular-shaped portion is extended into an inner wall portion of said hole.

8. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 4, wherein said top sheet has a portion protruding toward said absorbent layer around an edge of said hole, and a part of said discontinuous rectangular-shaped portion is extended and fused to said fiber layer at a tip of the protruding portion.

9. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said discontinuous row and said continuous rows have an irregular surface.

10. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said discontinuous row and said continuous rows have a width of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, and adjacent rows have an interval of 0.1 to 1.0 mm.

11. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said resin layer is whitened.