Absorbent article with center fill performance

• US 6,673,982 B1
• Filed: 10/02/1998
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindsay, Jeffrey D., Chen, Fung-jou, DiPalma, Joseph, Bednarz, Julie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): PLUCINSKI, JAMISUE A
• Application Number:
  US09/165,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/367, 604/378-383, 604/385.01, 604/385.101
• US Class Current: 604/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4751 the means preventing fluid flow in a transversal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4755 the means being a flat barrier on or inside the absorbent article, e.g. backsheet wrapped around the edges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4758 the means preventing fluid flow in a longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51474 characterised by its structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53409 having a folded core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53704 the layer having an inhibiting function on liquid propagation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53743 characterised by the position of the layer relative to the other layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53752 the layer is embedded in the absorbent core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5376 characterised by the performance of the layer, e.g. acquisition rate, distribution time, transfer time
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4568 three-dimensional; with split absorbent core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53782 with holes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture

Abstract

An absorbent article comprising a central absorbent member and a lateral wicking barrier for inhibition of wicking from the central regions of the article to an outlying outer absorbent member. The wicking barrier has a vertical component for prevention of radial wicking in the plane of the article and thus promotes center filling of the article with fluid and reduces the likelihood of leaks from the sides of the article. The wicking barrier can also have a horizontal component to prevent leakage, redirect fluid flow, and improve fit and performance of the article. In one embodiment, the central absorbent member is a concentric absorbent structure having alternating rings of barrier material and absorbent material, including a spiral wound composite formed from a layer of barrier material wound with a layer of absorbent material and then sliced to provide a thin absorbent layer having high permeability in the thickness direction but low permeability in the plane due to the barrier material.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a vertical direction substantially normal to both the longitudinal and traverse directions, a pair of longitudinal ends, and a body side, the absorbent article comprising:

a) an absorbent core having a body side surface, the absorbent core comprising an outer absorbent member having a body side surface and a central absorbent member, the outer absorbent member having a central void open toward the body side of the absorbent article, the central absorbent member having an average thickness, the central absorbent member disposed over and extending into the central void; and

b) a wicking barrier disposed between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member, the wicking barrier having a vertical component and a horizontal component, the vertical component spanning a vertical distance between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member of at least about 20 percent of the average thickness of the central absorbent member, and the horizontal component spanning a horizontal distance on the body side surface of the absorbent core and covering at least a portion of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising a backsheet attached to the absorbent core.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 further comprising a topsheet disposed over the absorbent core and attached to the backsheet.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the central void vertically extends completely through the outer absorbent member.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein the central void extends longitudinally between the pair of longitudinal ends of the absorbent article and divides the outer absorbent member into two noncontiguous sections.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the central void has a width and the central absorbent member has a width less than or equal to the width of the central void.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the central absorbent member comprises at least about 50 percent papermaking fibers by weight.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the wicking barrier is a liquid impervious material.

9. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein the liquid impervious material is selected from a polymeric film, a nonwoven web, a flexible foam, a silicone layer, a tissue treated with a hydrophobic material and a spunbond web.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the wicking barrier is a polymeric web that lines the central void beneath the central absorbent member.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance between the central absorbent member and the outer absorbent member of at least about 50 percent of the average thickness of the central absorbent member.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance between the central absorbent member and the outer absorbent member of at least about 70 percent of the average thickness of the central absorbent member.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance between the central absorbent member and the outer absorbent member substantially equal to the average thickness of the central absorbent member.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier spans a horizontal distance of at least about 1 mm.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the central absorbent member has a body side surface and wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier spans less than the entire body side surface of the central absorbent member.

16. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a vertical direction substantially normal to both the longitudinal and transverse directions, a pair of longitudinal ends, and a body side, the absorbent article comprising:

a) an absorbent core having a body side surface, the absorbent core comprising an outer absorbent member and a central absorbent member having a body side surface and a garment side surface opposite the body side surface, the outer absorbent member having a central void, the central void having a depth, the central void open toward the body side of the absorbent article, the central absorbent member disposed over and extending into the central void; and

b) a wicking barrier disposed between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member and a portion of the wicking barrier disposed on the garment side surface of the central absorbent member, the wicking barrier having a vertical component and a horizontal component, the vertical component comprising spanning a vertical distance between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member of at least about 50 percent of the depth of the central void, and the horizontal component spanning a horizontal distance on the body side surface of the absorbent core.

17. The absorbent article of claim 16 further comprising a backsheet attached to the absorbent core.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17 further comprising a topsheet disposed over the absorbent core and attached to the backsheet.

19. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the central void vertically extends completely through the outer absorbent member.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19 wherein the central void extends longitudinally between the pair of longitudinal edges of the absorbent article and divides the outer absorbent member into two noncontiguous sections.

21. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the central void has a width and the central absorbent member has a width less than or equal to the width of the central void.

22. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier substantially spans the entire depth of the central void.

23. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the central absorbent member comprises at least about 50 percent papermaking fibers by weight.

24. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the wicking barrier is a liquid impervious material.

25. The absorbent article of claim 24 wherein the liquid impervious material is selected from a polymeric film, a nonwoven web, a flexible foam, a silicone layer, a tissue treated with a hydrophobic material, and a spunbond web.

26. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the wicking barrier is a polymeric web which lines the central void beneath the central absorbent member.

27. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier spans a horizontal distance of at least about 1 mm.

28. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the central absorbent member has a body side surface and wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier spans less than the entire body side surface of the central absorbent member.

29. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a transverse axis, a vertical direction substantially normal to both the longitudinal and transverse directions, a pair of longitudinal ends, and a body side, the absorbent article comprising:

a) an absorbent core having a body side surface, the absorbent core comprising an outer absorbent member and a central absorbent member, the outer absorbent member having a body side surface and a central void open toward the body side of the absorbent article, the central absorbent member disposed over and extending into the central void; and

b) a wicking barrier disposed between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member, the wicking barrier having a vertical component and a horizontal component, the vertical component spanning a vertical distance between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member, the horizontal component covering at least about 30 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

30. The absorbent article of claim 29 further comprising a backsheet attached to the absorbent core.

31. The absorbent article of claim 30 further comprising a topsheet disposed over the absorbent core and attached to the backsheet.

32. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the central void vertically extends completely through the outer absorbent member.

33. The absorbent article of claim 32 wherein the central void extends longitudinally between the pair of longitudinal ends of the absorbent article and divides the outer absorbent member into two noncontiguous sections.

34. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the central void has a width and the central absorbent member has a width equal to or less than the width of the central void.

35. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the central void has a depth and the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance of at least about 50 percent of the depth of the central void.

36. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the central void has a depth and the vertical component of the wicking barrier is substantially equal to the depth of the central void.

37. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the central absorbent member comprises at least about 50 percent papermaking fibers by weight.

38. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the wicking barrier is a liquid impervious material.

39. The absorbent article of claim 38 wherein the liquid impervious material is selected from a polymeric film, a nonwoven web, a flexible foam, a silicon, layer, a tissue treated with a hydrophobic material, and a spunbond web.

40. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the wicking barrier is a polymeric web that lines the central void beneath central absorbent member.

41. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers at least about 50 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

42. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers at least about 80 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

43. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers about 100 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

44. The absorbent article of claim 29 wherein the central absorbent member has a body side surface and wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers less than the entire body side surface of the central absorbent member.

46. The absorbent article of claim 43 further comprising a backsheet attached to the absorbent core.

47. The absorbent article of claim 46 further comprising a topsheet disposed over the absorbent core and attached to the backsheet.

48. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the central void vertically extends completely through the outer absorbent member.

49. The absorbent article of claim 48 wherein the central void extends longitudinally between the pair of longitudinal ends of the absorbent article and divides the outer absorbent member into two noncontiguous sections.

50. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the central absorbent member comprises at least about 50 percent papermaking fibers by weight.

51. The absorbent article of claim 43 wherein the wicking barrier lines the central void beneath the central absorbent member.

45. An absorbent article having a transverse axis, a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a vertical direction substantially normal to both the longitudinal and transverse directions, a pair of longitudinal ends, and a body side, the absorbent article comprising;

a) an absorbent core having a body side, the absorbent core including an outer absorbent member and a central absorbent member, the outer absorbent member having a body side surface and a central void open to the body side of the absorbent article, the central absorbent member having an average thickness, the central absorbent member disposed over and extending into the central void; and

b) a liquid impervious single ply film barrier disposed between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member, the barrier having a vertical component and a horizontal component, the vertical component spanning a vertical distance of between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member of at least about 20 percent of the average thickness of the central member, and the horizontal component covering at least about 30 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

52. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member of at least about 50 percent of the average thickness of the central absorbent member.

53. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member of at least about 70 percent of the average thickness of the central absorbent member.

54. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein the vertical component of the wicking barrier spans a vertical distance between the outer absorbent member and the central absorbent member that is substantially equal to the average thickness of the central absorbent member.

55. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers at least about 50 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

56. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers at least about 80 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.

57. The absorbent article of claim 45 wherein the horizontal component of the wicking barrier covers about 100 percent of the body side surface of the outer absorbent member along the transverse axis.