Body fluids absorbent article

• US 6,911,574 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Mizutani, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): PLUCINSKI, JAMISUE A
• Application Number:
  US09/487,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 604/378, 604/379, 604/380, 604/383, 604/385.01, 604/385.04
• US Class Current: 604/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations

Abstract

A body fluids absorbent article including an absorbent structure that includes a liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposed therebetween. The topsheet is divided into a first absorbent surface zone and a second absorbent surface zone. The first absorbent surface zone has no gathers and is formed with a plurality of liquid-passages extending therethrough. The second absorbent surface zone is formed with a plurality of gathers extending longitudinally of the absorbent structure. Compressed grooves extend along boundary lines of the first and second absorbent surface zones in transversely opposite side regions of the body facing surface.

Claims

1. A body fluids absorbent article comprising:

an absorbent structure having a longitudinal center line;

a body facing surface; and

an undergarment facing surface,

said absorbent structure comprising;

a liquid-pervious topsheet defining said body facing surface;

a liquid-impervious backsheet defining said undergarment facing surface; and

a liquid-absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet,

said absorbent structure inclusive of said body facing surface being formed in an upper layer thereof with a pair of compressed grooves, each of said compressed grooves having opposite terminal ends and a length extending between and to the opposite terminal ends, said compressed grooves being curved along the entire lengths thereof and being arranged in bilateral symmetry about said longitudinal center line, and extending continuously between longitudinal opposite ends of said absorbent structure,

said topsheet being divided into a first absorbent surface zone extending in a central regions thereof and a second absorbent surface zone extending outward from said first absorbent surface zone,

said first absorbent surface zone having a substantially smooth surface having no gathers and formed with a plurality of liquid-passages extending therethrough,

said second absorbent surface zone having a plurality of gathers that extend substantially in parallel to said longitudinal center line,

said first and second absorbent surface zones having boundary lines in transversely opposite side regions of said body facing surfaces that extend along said pair of compressed grooves.

2. The article according to claim 1, wherein, of crests and troughs forming said gathers, each of said crests defines a channel having openings thereof on second boundary lines between said first and second absorbent surface zones in longitudinally opposite end zones of said body facing surface.

3. The article according to claim 1, wherein said topsheet is depressed into and bonded to said absorbent core at least along said pair of compressed grooves.

4. The article according to claim 1, wherein said pair of compressed grooves describe curves, respectively, convex toward said longitudinal center line.

5. The article according to claim 1, wherein said first absorbent zone is positioned in a central zone of both longitudinal and transverse directions of said article.

6. The article according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-passages are provided in the form of tapered capillaries.

7. The article according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of gathers are about 0.3 to about 3 mm high and arranged on said second absorbent surface zone at a pitch of about 0.2 to about 5 mm transversely of said second absorbent surface zone.

8. The article according to claim 1, wherein said first absorbent surface zone extends in the direction of said longitudinal center line and occupies about 15 to about 70% of said body facing surface.

9. The article according to claim 1, wherein said first and second absorbent surface zones are formed by thermoplastic sheets prepared separately of each other and sealed with each other at least along said boundary lines.

10. The article according to claim 1, wherein a pair of side flaps extend outward from transversely opposite side edges of said absorbent core and said side flaps further extend outward in the vicinity of middle regions thereof as viewed in the direction of said longitudinal center line to define a pair of wings.

11. The article according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-passages have diameters of about 0.3 to about 6 mm.

12. The article according to claim 5, wherein said liquid-passages are distributed over said first absorbent zone at a throat area ratio of about 5 to about 60%.