Enhanced body conformance with the use of free flowing particles

• US 7,858,841 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Woltman, Garry R., Stoeger, William G., Kressner, Bernhardt E., Krautkramer, Patsy A., Reeves, William G., Damay, Emmanuelle C., Sorebo, Heather A., Hamilton, Wendy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US10/316,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,939 Days
• Field of Search: 604/367, 604/364, 604/378, 604/385.01, 604/385.101, 604/383, 604/368
• US Class Current: 604/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/531 having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/534 having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence; homogeneous cores with tissue wrapping A61F13/53

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.

Claims

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.

2. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said substantially free-flowing particulate material has a retention capacity that is within the range of about 8-15 g/g menses-simulant.

3. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said body-conformance system is configured to provide a gap-protrusion area of at least about 20 mm².

4. An absorbent article as recited in claim 3, wherein said body conformance system provides a gap-protrusion area of at least about 40 mm².

5. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said containment layer is configured to be physiologically hydrous.

6. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said containment layer is configured to provide an intake-handling time of not more than about 120 sec per 2 mL of menses-simulant at a flow rate of 250 mL/hr.

7. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, further including substantially liquid-impermeable backsheet layer which is operatively joined with said containment layer.

8. An absorbent article as recited in claim 7, further including a liquid-permeable bodyside layer joined to said backsheet layer.

9. An absorbent article as recited in claim 8, wherein said liquid-permeable bodyside layer is configured to be physiologically hydrous.

10. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein the containment layer and the held particulate material are configured to provide an intake-handling time of not more than about 120 sec per 2 mL of menses-simulant at a flow rate of 250 mL/hr.

11. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said adsorbent material is present in an amount which is within the range of about 90 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.

12. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said substantially free-flowing particulate material further includes an absorbent material.

13. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said retention portion is interposed between the flexible, bodyside containment layer and a backsheet layer.

14. An absorbent article as recited in claim 13, wherein said retention portion has a retention capacity that is within the range of about 1-35 g/g menses-simulant.

15. An absorbent article as recited in claim 14, wherein said retention portion includes superabsorbent.

16. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said article further includes a resilient, shaping-layer positioned relatively outward from said quantity of substantially free-flowing particulate material.

17. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said body conformance system is configured to provide a selected array of containment pockets.

18. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said article is a feminine care article.

19. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said article is an interlabial pad.

20. An absorbent article as recited in claim 1, wherein said article is a wound dressing.

21. An absorbent article, comprising:

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.

22. An absorbent article as recited in claim 21, wherein said article is an adult care article.

23. An absorbent article as recited in claim 21, wherein said article is an infant care article.

24. An absorbent article as recited in claim 21, wherein said article is a child care article.

25. 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 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.