Topsheet for contacting hydrous body tissues and absorbent device with such a topsheet

• US 6,635,799 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Brown, Pamela Jean, Bewick-Sonntag, Christopher, Osborn, Thomas Ward III
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, C L
• Application Number:
  US09/637,440
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.17, 604/385.16, 604/385.01, 604/385.101, 604/367
• US Class Current: 604/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47227 for interlabial use
• 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 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00102 oblong
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51322 being elastomeric or stretchable

Abstract

A body-contacting surface or topsheet for absorbent articles or devices that is comfortable when it is placed in contact with hydrous body tissues is disclosed. In one non-limiting embodiment, the topsheet is a non-absorbent, moderately hydrophilic to substantially hydrophobic nonwoven web. The topsheet can have a critical surface tension of less than or equal to about 45 dynes/cm. In one embodiment, the nonwoven web has been mechanically modified so that it is extensible in an amount greater than equal to about 30% under a force of 50 grams, and undergoes a caliper change of greater than or equal to about 30% under a pressure of 1,000 Pa after being subjected to a pressure of 250 Pa. The topsheet is placed on absorbent devices such as sanitary napkins, tampons, pantiliners, interlabial devices, incontinence devices, bandages, and other types of articles. A method of capturing discharges from a source of discharges on a wearer'"'"'s body in which at least a portion of the source of discharges is located within hydrous membranes having irregular surfaces (e.g., a female wearer'"'"'s interlabial or intervaginal space) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A body tissue-contacting topsheet for an absorbent article that is to be placed in contact with a wearer'"'"'s hydrous body tissues, said topsheet comprising a non-absorbent, moderately hydrophilic to substantially hydrophobic material having an extensibility in at least one direction of greater than or equal to about 30% under a force of 50 grams, said topsheet having a critical surface tension of less than or equal to about 45, and said topsheet undergoing a caliper change of greater than or equal to about 30% when tested according to the Thickness Change Test.

2. A body tissue-contacting topsheet according to claim 1 which is three-dimensionally shaped.

3. A body tissue-contacting topsheet according to claim 1 which has a body-contacting surface, said body-contacting surface having areas of varying height, and a plane can be placed adjacent the highest points of the body-contacting surface, said topsheet having a depth, wherein the amount of surface area of said topsheet that lies above a plane that passes through said topsheet at a depth of 300 microns below the plane that passes through the highest points of the body-contacting surface is less than or equal to about 15% of the surface area of the topsheet as defined by the Bearing Ratio.

4. The body tissue-contacting topsheet of claim 2 in which the amount of surface area that lies above a plane that passes through said topsheet at a depth of 400 microns is less than or equal to about 40%.

5. The body tissue-contacting topsheet of claim 2 which comprises a nonwoven web having at least one irregular surface structure.

6. The body tissue-contacting topsheet of claim 3 comprising a mechanically altered nonwoven web.

7. The body tissue-contacting topsheet of claim 4 comprising a nonwoven web having a plurality of corrugations loosely formed therein.

8. An absorbent device insertable into the interlabial space of a female wearer comprising the body tissue-contacting topsheet of claim 1.

9. The absorbent device of claim 6 further comprising an acquisition zone with at least one aperture therein.

10. A tampon comprising the body tissue-contacting topsheet of claim 1.

11. A body tissue-contacting topsheet for an absorbent article that is to be placed in contact with a wearer'"'"'s hydrous body tissues, said topsheet comprising a non-absorbent, moderately hydrophilic to substantially hydrophobic material having an extensibility in at least one direction of greater than or equal to about 20% under a force of 50 grams, said topsheet undergoing a caliper change of greater than or equal to about 40% when tested according to the Thickness Change Test.