Enhanced body conformance with the use of free flowing particles
First Claim
1. An absorbent article, comprising:
- an absorbent retention portion; and
a body-conformance system which is positioned at least operatively proximate a bodyside surface of said article;
said body conformance system including at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer, and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material being entirely surrounded and enclosed by said at least one flexible containment layer;
said substantially free-flowing particulate material having an avalanche-time of less than 10 sec between avalanches, and a retention capacity that is within the range of about 1-15 g/g menses-simulant;
said substantially free-flowing particulate material including an adsorbent material that neither substantially softens nor substantially swells during its handling of liquids;
said adsorbent material being selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, silicates, granulated silica, perlite, vermiculate, granulated clay, glass beads, metal oxides, zeolites, carbonate, phosphates, borates, and aerogels; and
said adsorbent material present in an amount which is within the range of about 80 to about 100 wt %, based on a total weight of the adsorbent and other material that is entirely surrounded and enclosed by the at least one flexible containment layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A body conformance system (22) includes at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer (24), and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) constrained by the flexible containment layer (24). In a particular aspect, the substantially free-flowing particulate material (28) can exhibit a selected avalanche-time between avalanches. In another aspect, the particulate material can exhibit a selected, minimum retention capacity. In a further aspect, the system can exhibit a distinctive gap-protrusion area (104). In yet another aspect, the containment layer (24) can include a material that has a relatively high permeability to liquid, but a relatively high resistance to a passage of the particulate material.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An absorbent article, comprising:
- an absorbent retention portion; and
a body-conformance system which is positioned at least operatively proximate a bodyside surface of said article;
said body conformance system including at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer, and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material being entirely surrounded and enclosed by said at least one flexible containment layer;
said substantially free-flowing particulate material having an avalanche-time of less than 10 sec between avalanches, and a retention capacity that is within the range of about 1-15 g/g menses-simulant;
said substantially free-flowing particulate material including an adsorbent material that neither substantially softens nor substantially swells during its handling of liquids;
said adsorbent material being selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, silicates, granulated silica, perlite, vermiculate, granulated clay, glass beads, metal oxides, zeolites, carbonate, phosphates, borates, and aerogels; and
said adsorbent material present in an amount which is within the range of about 80 to about 100 wt %, based on a total weight of the adsorbent and other material that is entirely surrounded and enclosed by the at least one flexible containment layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- an absorbent retention portion; and
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21. An absorbent article, comprising:
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a backsheet layer; an absorbent retention portion operatively joined to said backsheet layer; and a body-conformance system which is positioned at least operatively proximate a bodyside surface of said article; said retention portion having an absorbent retention capacity within the range of about 2-50 g/g saline; said body conformance system including at least one flexible, liquid-permeable containment layer, and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material constrained by said at least one flexible containment layer; said substantially free-flowing particulate material including an adsorbent material that neither substantially softens nor substantially swells during its handling of liquids, said adsorbent material being selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, silicates, granulated silica, perlite, vermiculate, granulated clay, glass beads, metal oxides, zeolites, carbonate, phosphates, borates, and aerogels; said adsorbent material present in an amount which is within the range of about 80 to about 100 wt %, based on a total weight of the adsorbent and other material that is constrained by the at least one flexible containment layer; said substantially free-flowing particulate material having an avalanche-time of less than 10 sec between avalanches, and said body-conformance system providing a gap-protrusion area of at least about 20 mm2. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An absorbent article, comprising:
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an absorbent retention portion, and a body-conformance system which is positioned at least operatively proximate a bodyside surface of said article; said body conformance system including at least one liquid-permeable, flexible containment layer, and an operative quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material constrained by said at least one flexible containment layer; said substantially free-flowing particulate material including an adsorbent material that neither substantially softens nor substantially swells during its handling of liquids, said adsorbent material being selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, silicates, granulated silica, perlite, vermiculate, granulated clay, glass beads, metal oxides, zeolites, carbonate, phosphates, borates, and aerogels; said adsorbent material present in an amount which is within the range of about 80 to about 100 wt %, based on a total weight of the adsorbent and other material that is constrained by the at least one flexible containment layer; said substantially free-flowing particulate material having a gap-protrusion area of at least about 20 mm2, and a retention capacity that is within the range of about 1-15 g/g menses-simulant.
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Specification