Disposable elastic absorbent article having retaining enclosures
First Claim
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1. An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article providing dual barrier layer protection and having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, comprising:
- (a) a topsheet, a backsheet, a waist portion having a front waist portion and a back waist portion, a crotch portion and a pair of spaced apart leg openings;
(b) an absorbent layer having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent layer being defined by two opposed spaced apart longitudinal sides, each longitudinal side having a proximal end, a distal end and a middle portion, and opposed spaced apart proximal and distal lateral ends;
(c) means for fastening said absorbent article around a waist portion of a wearer of the absorbent article; and
(d) a pair of elasticized barrier layers selected from the group consisting of(d1) a pair of elasticized end barrier layers including;
(i) a first arch-shaped elasticized barrier layer formed of a pair of opposed leg segments and a generally concave bight segment connecting said leg segments, and having a first of said leg segments attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, a second of said leg segments opposite said first leg segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of the other of said longitudinal sides, and said bight segment attached to said topsheet along said distal lateral end of said absorbent layer, thereby forming a first retaining enclosure between said first barrier layer and said topsheet; and
(ii) a second arch-shape elasticized barrier layer formed of a pair of opposed leg segments and a generally concave bight segment connecting said leg segments, and having a first of said leg segments attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said one longitudinal side, a second of said leg segments opposite said first leg segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said other longitudinal side, and said bight segment attached to said topsheet along said proximal lateral end of said absorbent layer, thereby forming a second retaining enclosure between said second barrier layer and said topsheet;
each of said first and second arch-shaped elasticized barrier layers being disposed with the respective free ends of said leg segments intersecting and overlapping the respective free ends of said leg segments of the other of said barrier layers to form in said crotch portion a double barrier layer on said topsheet along the middle portion of each of said longitudinal sides; and
(d2) a pair of elasticized side barrier layers including;
(i) a first generally concave elasticized barrier layer having a first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, and a second end segment opposite said first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said one longitudinal side, and an intermediate segment connecting said first and second end segments attached to said topsheet along said one longitudinal side, thereby forming a first retaining enclosure between said first barrier layer and said topsheet; and
(ii) a second generally concave elasticized barrier layer having a first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of the other of said longitudinal sides, a second end segment opposite said first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said other longitudinal side, and an intermediate segment connecting said first and second end segments attached to said topsheet along said other longitudinal side, thereby forming a second retaining enclosure between said second barrier layer and said topsheet;
each of said first and second elasticized barrier layers being formed of a pair of generally triangular elements disposed with the respective apices thereof intersecting and overlapping each other to form in said crotch portion a double barrier layer on said topsheet along the middle portions of each of said longitudinal sides.
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Abstract
An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article has a front waist portion, a back waist portion, a crotch portion, a pair of spaced apart leg openings, an absorbent core member, and means for tightly fitting the absorbent body to the body of the wearer. The absorbent article has a barrier layer which comprises one or more segments overlying portions of the absorbent core member, and defining one or more retaining enclosures between the barrier layer segments and the underlying portion of the absorbent core member.
124 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article providing dual barrier layer protection and having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, comprising:
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(a) a topsheet, a backsheet, a waist portion having a front waist portion and a back waist portion, a crotch portion and a pair of spaced apart leg openings; (b) an absorbent layer having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent layer being defined by two opposed spaced apart longitudinal sides, each longitudinal side having a proximal end, a distal end and a middle portion, and opposed spaced apart proximal and distal lateral ends; (c) means for fastening said absorbent article around a waist portion of a wearer of the absorbent article; and (d) a pair of elasticized barrier layers selected from the group consisting of (d1) a pair of elasticized end barrier layers including; (i) a first arch-shaped elasticized barrier layer formed of a pair of opposed leg segments and a generally concave bight segment connecting said leg segments, and having a first of said leg segments attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, a second of said leg segments opposite said first leg segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of the other of said longitudinal sides, and said bight segment attached to said topsheet along said distal lateral end of said absorbent layer, thereby forming a first retaining enclosure between said first barrier layer and said topsheet; and (ii) a second arch-shape elasticized barrier layer formed of a pair of opposed leg segments and a generally concave bight segment connecting said leg segments, and having a first of said leg segments attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said one longitudinal side, a second of said leg segments opposite said first leg segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said other longitudinal side, and said bight segment attached to said topsheet along said proximal lateral end of said absorbent layer, thereby forming a second retaining enclosure between said second barrier layer and said topsheet; each of said first and second arch-shaped elasticized barrier layers being disposed with the respective free ends of said leg segments intersecting and overlapping the respective free ends of said leg segments of the other of said barrier layers to form in said crotch portion a double barrier layer on said topsheet along the middle portion of each of said longitudinal sides; and (d2) a pair of elasticized side barrier layers including; (i) a first generally concave elasticized barrier layer having a first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, and a second end segment opposite said first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said one longitudinal side, and an intermediate segment connecting said first and second end segments attached to said topsheet along said one longitudinal side, thereby forming a first retaining enclosure between said first barrier layer and said topsheet; and (ii) a second generally concave elasticized barrier layer having a first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of the other of said longitudinal sides, a second end segment opposite said first end segment attached to said topsheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said other longitudinal side, and an intermediate segment connecting said first and second end segments attached to said topsheet along said other longitudinal side, thereby forming a second retaining enclosure between said second barrier layer and said topsheet; each of said first and second elasticized barrier layers being formed of a pair of generally triangular elements disposed with the respective apices thereof intersecting and overlapping each other to form in said crotch portion a double barrier layer on said topsheet along the middle portions of each of said longitudinal sides. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An integral disposable elasticized absorbent article having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, comprising:
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(a) a top sheet, a back sheet, a waist portion having a front waist portion and a back waist portion, a crotch portion and a pair of spaced apart leg openings; (b) an absorbent layer having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis disposed between said top sheet and said back sheet, said absorbent layer being defined by two opposed spaced apart longitudinal sides, each longitudinal side having a proximal end, a distal end and a middle portion, and opposed spaced apart proximal and distal lateral ends; (c) means for fastening said absorbent article around a waist portion of a wearer of the absorbent article; and (d) at least one elasticized barrier layer selected from the group consisting of; (i) an arch-shaped elasticized end barrier layer formed of a pair of opposed leg segments and a generally concave bight segment connecting said leg segments, and having a first of said leg segments attached to said top sheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, a second of said leg segments opposite said first attached to said top sheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of the other of said longitudinal sides, and said bight segment attached to said top sheet along said distal lateral end of said absorbent layer, thereby forming a retaining enclosure between said barrier layer and said top sheet; (ii) a generally concave elasticized end barrier layer having a first end segment attached to said top sheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, a second end segment opposite said first end segment attached to said top sheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of the other of said longitudinal sides, and an intermediate segment connecting said first and second end segments attached to said top sheet along one of said lateral ends of said absorbent layer, thereby forming a retaining enclosure between said barrier layer and said top sheet; (iii) a generally concave elasticized side barrier layer having a first end segment attached to said top sheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and distal end, inclusive, of one of said longitudinal sides, and a second end segment opposite said first end segment attached to said top sheet along a length of the periphery of said absorbent layer between the middle portion and proximal end, inclusive, of said one longitudinal side, and an intermediate segment connecting said first and second end segments attached to said top sheet along said one longitudinal side, thereby forming a retaining enclosure between said barrier layer and said top sheet; and (iv) combinations thereof;
said at least one elasticized barrier layer having an elasticized inner edge(A) defining a partially continuous configuration having a discontinuity therein, and (B) extending for essentially its entire length non-parallel to said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification