Absorbent article

• US 6,965,058 B1
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hakle-Kimberly Deutschland GmbH (UFK Management Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Hakle-Kimberly Deutschland GmbH (UFK Management Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Aschenbrenner, Franz, Raidel, Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, CATHARINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/402,059
• Time in Patent Office: 2,794 Days
• Field of Search: 604367-369, 604/374, 604/375, 604378-380, 604/385.01
• US Class Current: 604/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47218 with a raised crotch region, e.g. hump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• 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 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4708 Panty-liner
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 61/24 with urea or thiourea

Abstract

Described is an absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable layer (18) disposed towards the wearer'"'"'s body when the said article is in use; a liquid-impermeable layer (20) disposed away from the wearer'"'"'s body when the said article is in use; as well as an absorbent body arranged between the liquid-permeable layer (18) and the liquid-impermeable layer (20). The absorbent body comprises an absorbent material (32) which remains able to flow even after contact with a liquid. In addition, the invention discloses an absorbent article which comprises a liquid-impermeable layer disposed away from the wearer'"'"'s body when the article is in use, as well as an absorbent body covered by a liquid-permeable layer; with the said absorbent body containing an absorbent material which remains able to flow even after contact with a liquid. In this, the absorbent body is connected to the liquid-impermeable layer in a central area of the said absorbent body.

Claims

1. An absorbent article, comprising:

a liquid-permeable layer,

a substantially liquid-impermeable layer; and

an absorbent body between the liquid-permeable layer and the substantially liquid-impermeable layer;

the absorbent body comprising an absorbent material which absorbs 10 ml or more of water per gram of absorbent material and absorbs said water under conditions where no volume expansion is possible.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material comprises absorbent particles.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the absorbent particles comprise spherical particles.

4. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the absorbent particles have a diameter of about 100–

2000 microns.

5. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the absorbent particles have a diameter of about 200–

800 microns.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material comprises polymethylene urea.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least about one third by weight of the absorbent material.

8. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least about one half by weight of the absorbent material.

9. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least about two thirds by weight of the absorbent material.

10. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least about 80% by weight of the absorbent material.

11. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the absorbent material consists essentially of the polymethylene urea.

12. The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the polymethylene urea is substantially free of ether groups and formaldehyde.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material comprises a superabsorbent material.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the superabsorbent material comprises a polyacrylate.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent body further comprises a fibrous matrix, and the absorbent material is disposed within the matrix.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent body further comprises at least one care substance.

17. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the care substance comprises a material selected from extracts of aloe vera, marigold, chamomile, and combinations thereof.

62. The absorbent article of claim 1, comprising a diaper.

63. The absorbent article of claim 1, comprising an incontinence pad.

18. The absorbent article, comprising:

a substantially liquid-impermeable layer;

an absorbent body connected to the substantially liquid-impermeable layer in a central region of the substantially liquid-impermeable layer; and

a liquid permeable layer over a side of the absorbent body opposite the substantially liquid-impermeable layer;

the absorbent body comprising an absorbent material which absorbs 10 ml or more of water per gram of absorbent material and absorbs said water under conditions where no volume expansion is possible.

19. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body and substantially liquid-impermeable layer are connected using an adhesive.

20. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body and substantially liquid-impermeable layer are connected using one or more seams.

21. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body further comprises a secondary storage layer including a soft absorbent material.

22. The absorbent article of claim 21, wherein the soft absorbent material comprises a material selected from coform materials, airlaid materials, tissue cotton-wools, and combinations thereof.

23. The absorbent article of claim 21, wherein the soft absorbent material comprises a nonwoven material selected from spunbond fabrics, carded webs, and combinations thereof.

24. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body further comprises a fibrous matrix, and the absorbent material is disposed within the matrix.

25. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the absorbent material is disposed substantially homogeneously within the matrix.

26. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body further comprises two or more layers of a fibrous material, and the absorbent material is disposed between the layers of fibrous material.

27. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the fibrous matrix comprises a material selected from cellulose, a cellulose/polypropylene mixture, a coform material, and combinations thereof.

28. The absorbent article of claim 26, wherein the two or more layers of fibrous material comprise a material selected from cellulose, a cellulose/polypropylene mixture, a coform material, and combinations thereof.

29. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the absorbent body comprises the fibrous material and absorbent material in a weight ratio of about 99–

75% fibrous material to about 1–

25% absorbent material.

30. The absorbent article of claim 29, wherein the weight ratio is about 95–

80% fibrous to about 5–

20% absorbent material.

31. The absorbent article of claim 29, wherein the weight ratio is about 90–

85% fibrous material to about 10–

15% absorbent material.

32. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body further comprises at least one care substance.

33. The absorbent article of claim 32, wherein the care substance comprises a material selected from extracts of aloe vera, marigold, chamomile, and combinations thereof.

34. The absorbent article of claim 32, wherein the care substance is enclosed in microcapsules.

35. The absorbent article of claim 34, wherein the care substance is releasable from the microcapsules in response to heat or pressure.

36. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent material is treated with a substance selected from bactericidal, fungicidal and viricidal substances, and combinations thereof.

37. The absorbent article of claim 36, wherein the substance comprises a bactericidal substance selected from chlorinated levulinic acid, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium halogenides, and combinations thereof.

38. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent material comprises absorbent particles.

39. The absorbent article of claim 38, wherein the absorbent particles comprise spherical particles.

40. The absorbent article of claim 38, wherein the spherical particles have a diameter of about 100–

200 microns.

41. The absorbent article of claim 38, wherein the spherical particles have a diameter of about 200–

800 microns.

42. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent material comprises polymethylene urea.

43. The absorbent article of claim 42, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least one third of the absorbent material.

44. The absorbent article of claim 42, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least one half of the absorbent material.

45. The absorbent article of claim 42, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least two thirds of the absorbent material.

46. The absorbent article of claim 42, wherein the polymethylene urea constitutes at least 80% of the absorbent material.

47. The absorbent article of claim 42, wherein the absorbent material consists essentially of the polymethylene urea.

48. The absorbent article of claim 42, wherein the polymethylene urea is substantially free of ether groups and formaldehyde.

49. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent material comprises a superabsorbent material.

50. The absorbent article of claim 49, wherein the superabsorbent material comprises a polyacrylate.

51. The absorbent article of claim 18, having a length and a width, wherein the absorbent body comprises at least one core which contains the absorbent material, the core having a length that is less than or equal to the length of the absorbent article, and a width that is less than or equal to the width of the absorbent article.

52. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the absorbent body comprises at least two chambers, and at least one wall between the chambers.

53. The absorbent article of claim 52, wherein the wall is aligned in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article.

54. The absorbent article of claim 52, wherein the wall is aligned in a transverse direction of the absorbent article.

55. The absorbent article of claim 52, comprising at least one wall aligned in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and at least one wall aligned in a transverse direction of the absorbent article.

56. The absorbent article of claim 51, wherein the core comprises a plurality of chambers.

64. The absorbent article of claim 18, comprising a feminine hygiene article.

65. The absorbent article of claim 18, comprising a diaper.

66. The absorbent article of claim 18, comprising an incontinence pad.

57. A hygiene article, comprising:

a liquid-permeable layer;

a substantially liquid-permeable layer; and

an absorbent body between the liquid-permeable layer and the substantially liquid-impermeable layer;

the absorbent body comprising an absorbent material which absorbs 10 ml or more of water per gram of absorbent material and absorbs said water under conditions where no volume expansion is possible.

58. The hygiene article of claim 57, comprising a feminine hygiene article.

59. The hygiene article of claim 57, comprising a sanitary napkin.

60. The hygiene article of claim 57, comprising a panty liner.

61. The hygiene article of claim 57, wherein the liquid-permeable layer comprises a central aperture.