High-strength, stabilized absorbent article

• US 6,608,237 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Gary Douglas, Li, Yong, Kressner, Bernhardt Edward, Ranganathan, Sridhar, Wisneski, Anthony John, Van Dyke, Wendy Lynn, Kalmon, Michael Franklin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOGART, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/631,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 604/364, 604/375, 604/382, 604/385.01, 604/385.23, 604/385.31
• US Class Current: 604/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15617 Making absorbent pads from fibres or pulverulent material with or without treatment of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15658 Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad

Abstract

An absorbent article (10) includes a backsheet layer (30), a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28), and an absorbent body (32) sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The absorbent body (32) includes a first fibrous stratum (52) having a first quantity of absorbent fibers, a second fibrous stratum (54) having a second quantity of absorbent fibers, and at least a third fibrous stratum (56) which is located between and integrally formed with the first and second fibrous strata (52, 54). In particular aspects, the third fibrous stratum (56) includes an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent. In other aspects, the wet-strength agent is distributed in the third quantity of absorbent fibers to render the third fibrous stratum (56) substantially non-dispersible.

Claims

1. An absorbent article, comprising:

a backsheet layer;

a liquid permeable topsheet layer;

an absorbent body sandwiched between said backsheet layer and said topsheet layer, said absorbent body including

a first fibrous stratum,

a second fibrous stratum,

said first and second fibrous strata being composed of a substantially similar material, and at least a third fibrous stratum which is located between and integrally formed with said first

and second fibrous strata, said third fibrous stratum including, a third quantity of absorbent fibers; and

an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent which is distributed in said third fibrous stratum to render said third fibrous stratum substantially non-dispersible in an aqueous liquid.

2. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second fibrous strata are substantially free of said wet-strength agent.

3. An article as recited in claim 2, wherein said first and second fibrous strata are substantially dispersible in the aqueous liquid.

4. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein at least about 5 wt % of said absorbent body is substantially dispersible in the aqueous liquid.

5. An article as recited in claim 4, wherein said absorbent body provides a remainder basis weight which is substantially non-dispersible in the aqueous liquid, and said remainder basis weight is at least about 30 g/m².

6. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbent body has a liquid distribution value of at least about 0.001 g/(min*gsm*inch).

7. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbent body has a composite wet-strength of at least about 0.1 gm per g/m² per inch.

8. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said wet-strength agent has been distributed to provide a dry add-on amount which is not more than about 1 wt % of said absorbent body.

9. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said third fibrous stratum has been airlaid.

10. An article as recited in claim 9, wherein said first fibrous stratum has been airlaid.

11. An article as recited in claim 10, wherein said second fibrous stratum has been airlaid.

12. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said third fibrous stratum is a non-tissue portion.

13. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbent body provides a slope-value which is at least about 2.6.

14. An article as recited in claim 13, wherein said absorbent body provides a slope-value which is not more than about 5.

15. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said wet-strength agent includes a polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin material.

16. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said wet-strength agent has been distributed onto fibers of said third fibrous stratum during an airlaying of said third fibrous stratum.

17. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said wet-strength agent has been distributed in a liquid form onto fibers of said third fibrous stratum.

18. An article as recited in claim 17, wherein said wet-strength agent has been distributed in a liquid solution form onto fibers of said third fibrous stratum.

19. An article as recited in claim 17, wherein said wet-strength agent has been distributed in an aqueous liquid form onto fibers of said third fibrous stratum.

20. An article as recited in claim 19, wherein said wet-strength agent has been sprayed onto fibers of said third fibrous stratum during an airlaying of said third fibrous stratum.

21. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbent body includes a quantity of superabsorbent material distributed therein.

22. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbent body has a composite density of at least about 0.05 g/cm³.

23. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said absorbent body has a composite density of not more than about 0.4 g/cm³.

24. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said third fibrous stratum and said second fibrous stratum have an irregular, diffuse interface therebetween.

25. An article as recited in claim 24, wherein said third fibrous stratum and said second fibrous stratum have an irregular, diffuse interface therebetween.

26. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said article further comprises a surge management portion located adjacent said absorbent body.

27. An article as recited in claim 26, wherein said surge management portion is positioned between said absorbent body and said topsheet layer.