Absorbent article with liquid acquisition layer

• US 7,132,585 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Kudo, Jun, Miyama, Takuya, Kuroda, Kenichiro, Kashiwagi, Masahiro, Kinoshita, Masataka
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Craig, Paula L.
• Application Number:
  US11/059,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 604/380, 604/378, 604/369, 604/384, 604/385.101, 604/383
• US Class Current: 604/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53708 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in at least one direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53747 the layer is facing the topsheet layer is part of the topsheet A61F13/511
• 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 2013/53778 with grooves

Abstract

Disclosed is an absorbent article having a liquid acquisition layer between a topsheet and a liquid absorbent layer. The liquid acquisition layer is an absorbent sheet that is three-dimensionally deformed to include: longitudinal ribs projecting toward the topsheet and extending parallel with each other in a longitudinal direction of the article; and transverse ribs projecting toward the topsheet and extending in a transverse direction of the article. The transverse ribs are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction and connect adjacent longitudinal ribs, thereby providing a plurality of recesses surrounded by the longitudinal ribs and the transverse ribs. At least the longitudinal ribs are in contact with an overlying component, whereas bottoms of the recesses are in contact with the liquid absorbent layer.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a liquid-permeable topsheet appearing on a skin surface;

a backsheet appearing on a garment surface; and

a liquid absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet,

wherein a liquid acquisition layer is disposed between the liquid absorbent layer and the topsheet, the liquid acquisition layer being kept in a three-dimensionally deformed state,

wherein the liquid acquisition layer is an absorbent sheet that is three-dimensionally deformed to include;

longitudinal ribs projecting toward the topsheet and extending parallel with each other in a longitudinal direction of the article; and

transverse ribs projecting toward the topsheet and extending in a transverse direction of the article, the transverse ribs being arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction and connecting adjacent longitudinal ribs, thereby providing a plurality of recesses surrounded by the longitudinal ribs and the transverse ribs,

wherein at least the longitudinal ribs are in contact with the topsheet, whereas bottoms of the recesses are in contact with the liquid absorbent layer

wherein the liquid acquisition layer has flat portions extending from each of two opposing sides of an uneven portion that is defined by the longitudinal and transverse ribs, each flat portion having a greater width and a lower fiber density than any of the longitudinal ribs.

2. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein a height from the bottoms of the recesses to tops of the transverse ribs is smaller than a height from the bottoms of the recesses to tops of the longitudinal ribs.

3. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein the individual recesses are elongated to be longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction.

4. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein each recess has a space volume of 8 to 80 mm³.

5. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid acquisition layer has low-density portions where fiber-to-fiber distance is increased by concentration of tensile stress when the absorbent sheet is three-dimensionally deformed.

6. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid acquisition layer is a stack of two or more absorbent sheets that are three-dimensionally deformed together.

7. An absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein when measured in the longitudinal direction, the liquid acquisition layer has a dry tensile breaking strength of at least 2.5 N/25 mm width.